Whirlpool Corporation Introduces New Hybrid Heat Pump Dryer Technology, HybridCare™

[joe_in_philly]

I am going to assume that this dryer will have both a cold water hookup, similar to other whirlpool dryers that have a steam setting, and also a drain hose, since I don't see a condensate container. Wouldn't it be able to use the condensate or tap water to remove excess heat w/o impacting room air temperature? If this is Whirlpool's attempt at introducing a full sized heatpump dryer to the US, I think they would do what is necessary to make it appealing to US customers, even if it reduces efficiency a bit.

 

[kb0nes]

"waste alot more energy than a conventinal 220 volt electric dryer"

Huh? How do you figure this non-fact??

Both pricing and energy consumption are unknown at this time, but it's pretty darned sure safe to assume it will use less electricity. Otherwise why would it be built??

 

[mrb627]

Right!

I suspect the only things wasteful about this machine will be the user's time and initial expense.

So, whom is willing to take one for the team and be a first adopter?

Malcolm

 

[launderess]

There is one born every minute...

"Whether a dryer is gas or electric, standard size or compact, manufacturers can shoot for the Star, but most dryers will not meet the requirements, says Abigail Daken of Energy Star, and models earning Energy Star status will probably cost over $700. You can expect to save about $18 a year in energy costs with an Energy Star electric dryer—around $217 if you keep the dryer 12 years—or $9 annually with a gas model, compared to a dryer that meets the DOE’s 2015 minimum efficiency standard."

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/05/finally-the-humble-dryer-can-reach-for-energy-star/index.htm

 

[launderess]

So just for the warm fuzzy feeling of saying on is "saving the planet" and purchasing a "Energy Star" dryer of the bat you are paying $700 more. But wait the savings are only <$20 per year and <$10 for gas for a grand total of $217 after twelve years. This means already there is a net loss of $429. It would take almost thirty years to recoup any energy savings to mitigate the increased cost over a conventional dryer.

This is all built upon the ES dryer performing the same as a conventional version, that is drying loads in the same or less time. Oh and the thing has to remain in service for the duration as well.

 

[mrb627]

A/C Space

I suspect if you are operating a clothes dryer in an air conditioned space, you need to account for the thermal impact on your HVAC system. Wonder if it is less of an impact with a long running ES dryer as compared to a standard gas or electric vented unit.

Malcolm

 

[kb0nes]

Remember its a heat pump, its not about creating heat, its just moving it about. Sure there will be heat created from the electricity consumed but that is a small amount of the heat moved in the closed loop system. Heat will be moved to warm the load and evaporate the moisture in the garments, that moisture will move to the evaporator and give up its latent heat back into the refrigeration system when it condenses. Its not like a dryer that just dumps heat like we use today.

This may some day be the next big thing in more efficient clothes drying (or it may not). It might be wise to keep an open mind to see how the technology proves itself. I'm sure when the early washers came to be a lot of people still preferred to still beat their clothing on a rock though...

 

[jerrod6]

If this is using the term Hybrid I assume then that it is using both an electric coil and a heat pump, so the savings would come about when using the HP part of the machine.  So you could chose the energy savings cycle and wait 3 hours for a load to dry or you could select the fast dry option which may use both, and include electric resistance heating as well.

 

I wonder what the life span of this compressor is..the same as a central unit..a window unit or better?

 

In the picture in the link that joe posted see that door at the bottom right, thats where you empty the moisture container.  

 

If I was using electric to dry my clothes I might take a deep look, but as someone who uses natural gas to heat water for 6 or 7 loads of clothes, then dry the loads, then take 2 showers, and cook 3 meals ...all in one day....and not even use $1 to do it, I don't think It makes any sense for me. I would like to hear of others experiences

 

[launderess]

Hybrid

IIRC may come as the offering from Whirlpool will have both vented and vent-less capability. Much like a hybrid car can run on both electric and petrol.

By doing this WP seems a Moi to be admitting that condenser dryers have limits (with or without heat pump technology) that the American consumer may not welcome. So rather than leave them landed with a pure condenser dryer an option for venting will be supplied to cope with said objections.

 

[frigilux]

C'mon, Malcolm! I was hoping you'd offer to take one for the team and let us know what you think.  Wow, though, shelling out $2,000 with little hope of a return in savings...that's asking a lot.

 

I believe fabric wear 'n' tear comes in to play here, as well.  Tumbling is a fairly gentle way of handling fabrics, but have you noticed how many front-load washers dropped from ratings of 'Excellent' to 'Very Good' or even 'Good' for gentleness to fabrics as cycle times increased?  Another 2-1/2 to 3 hours of tumbling in the dryer will take its toll.  I wouldn't be so concerned about things like sheets and bath towels, but there's no way I'd want dress shirts and pants tumbling that long.  The fabric at collar points, edges of cuffs and waistbands will wear through in no time.

 

Wonder how long it will be before they pump the condensate water to the partnered washer to be used as the first minute of cold water fill which is the protocol on many new washers?

 

Our UK/European members have commented on the super-long drying times with their machines which are smaller than US makes.  How long will it take to dry a 22-lb. load coming from a Whirlpool front-loader or one of their behemoth impeller-based top-loaders?

 

[kenmore71]

The dry times for the European dryers do seem to be crazy long. One time chart suggested that an 8kg (roughly 18 lbs.) load of heavy whites would take 2:20 to dry if spun out at 1600 rpm and 2:50 if spun out at 1000 rpm.

 

I think that energy is too cheap here in the US (especially natural gas) for a $2000 dryer to catch on given the negligible energy sayings in the medium-term. That, and homes built since the 1950s had dryer venting installed and older homes have been retrofitted. The venting issue is largely a non-issue with the exception of older high density type of dwellings. 

 

[launderess]

Predict The Only Places You'll See These Heat Pump Dryer

In the United States is pretty much where you find condenser versions already, buildings where persons cannot or will not install ductwork for venting and or cannot locate the dryer near a window.

Next will be the same problem Miele and other European makers of appliances that run on 208v-240v found out; unless a household already has such service installed it the added cost of doing so can spell an end to the deal.

This means these Whirlpool dryers will be direct replacements for other electric dryers and or if the household already has the proper power already wired. And please don't start about how "easy" and or inexpensive it is to add 208v-240v service where it does not exist because that simply is not true. Again just ask Miele USA.

Here in NYC unless one already has 208v-240v service at the panel meaning it already comes into the apartment/home it can cost several thousand to have the work done depending upon how extensive the required work. If it means running a larger cable from Con Edison's main to the building for instance you are talking big money just to open up the street and sidewalk (much less close them up again)just to bring the new power to the building. Then there is the work on panel and perhaps outlets.

 

[joe_in_philly]

Jerrod:

I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that the door on the bottom right was to access filters or coils that would need to be routinely cleaned. Shall we wager?

 

[pulsator]

I find this thread...

... Very interesting!

 

[mrb627]

One For The Team...

When you can get one with Speed Queen badging, we may entertain it further. But probably not under the Whirlpool name.

Malcolm

 

[frigilux]

Malcolm--  Seeing as SQ has yet to adopt electronic moisture sensing (opting to stick with traditional thermostat methods) it may be awhile before they take the plunge into heat pumps, LOL!  Poor recall on my part:  Did you wind up keeping your Miele or SQ pair, and is it your daily driver?

Your SQ set was that sharp-looking stainless steel model, too, wasn't it?

 

Jamie-- Can you provide any more insight into Whirlpool's heat pump dryers?

[this post was last edited: 7/30/2014-00:27]

 

[henene4]

@alex what takes this incredibly long is getting to that temp. I red a Amazon question where Bauknecht answered about reversing. It said that the first reversing cycle started after reaching the target temp of 65°C.
Actually, it is not that bad about times. 2h can be common, but not always. And keep in mind it could have a twice as strong heat pump.

 

[mrb627]

SQ or Miele

After a year of use, I sent the Miele's on to another home and moved the SQ's back in to production. Glad I didn't sell the SQ's after all. Life is so much easier with them than the Miele's.

Malcolm

 

[pulsator]

I will be happy to shed some light on this dryer when I can!

 

[repair-man]

Just my opinion...

but I don't have much confidence in anything that Whirlpool does these days. In the past I thought Whirlpool was the overall best brand that you could buy. Parts to repair where very reasonable too. Not anymore in my experience.